Wedge-lock for couplings.



B. P. RINNE. WBDGE LOOK FOR COUPLINGS.

Patented Jan.12, 1915.

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EDMUND P. KINNE, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEELFOITNDRIES,

OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WEDGE-LOCK FOR COUPLINGS.

Application led July 20, 1912.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, EDMUJD I. KINNE, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Alliance, in the county ofStark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in lVedge-Locks for Couplers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to car couplers and has particular reference to anovel coupler lock and the mounting therefor within the coupler head.

In the operation of railway trains and particularly freight trains thecouplers joining the adjacent cars are given hard usage with the resultthat the working parts wear and become loose. The wear is most apparentin the coupler knuckle; that is, the hook which engages the hook of themating coupler. This wear appears in the pivot pin, the looking face ofthe knuckle, the lock and the locking face of the coupler. As this wearincreases, the knuckle is allowed to open beyond normal lines to acertain extent. Nhen this abnormal opening reaches a certain point thecoupler becomes unserviceable and must be discarded, this for the reasonthat there is a tendency for the coupler to become disconnected from themating coupler if the knuckle does not remain closed to its fullextent.This is a frequent cause of trains becoming parted while in motion.

The present invention vrelates toa coupler so arranged that this wear isautomatically taken up.

Many wedge locks have been suggested in order to automaticallycompensate for wear in the moving parts. However, these locks as a rulewedge between the contacting surfaces and makes the lock difficult ofremoval.

By my arrangement the lock is wedged internally; that is, it is formedof three parts, the central part being adapted to separate the two outerparts and increase the transverse dimension of the lock; The parts areintended to be secured against transverse displacement but are adaptedfor relative longitudinal movement. Thus in service the lock is aunitary block having no looseparts but is adapted to be expanded inorder to take up any wear occurring between the knuckle and the lockingface of the coupler.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Serial No. 710,535.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to thedrawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a coupler constructed inaccordancev with my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end ele vation of my novel lock; Fig.Ll is a side view thereof; Fig.` 5 is a bottom plan view, and, *'Fig. 6is a top plan view of one of the sections of the lock. Referring moreparticularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the coupler which isof the Janney type, is composed of a shank 10, a coupler head 11, aknuckle 12, pivoted at 13, a knuckle opener 14, and a locking blockcomposed of three parts 15, 16, 17. The central part 16 contains anapertured lug .18, to which is connected a link 19, projectmg through anopening inthe top wall of the coupler. This central portion is providedwith undercut grooves 20, 20, with which ribs or anges 21, 21, on theparts 15, 17, coperate. Thus when assembled the parts are prevented fromtransverse move- `ment but are permitted relative longitudinal movement.In the part 16, a flange or shelf 22, as shown in Fig.` 2, extends inthe plane of the groove 20, and limits the travel of the part 16relative to the parts 15, 17.

In order to prevent the separation of the v parts by extended verticalmovement of the part 16, lugs 23, 23, are formed alongside of thegrooves 20, and after vthe parts are assembled these lugs 23 are bentover into the plane of the ribs 21. In Figs. 3 and 4 the lugs are shownwithout having been bent over, whereas in Fig. 5 they are shown as inservice. On the contacting faces of the parts 15, 16, I prefer toprovide serrations 24, in order that the tendency of the part 16 tocreep upwardly may be overcome in service. A projectionor flange 25, onthe part 15, coperates with a groove or cut-away portion 26 in the wallof the coupler and guides the lock in its vertical movement. In thelocked position the block rests upon seats 27, formed on the bottom wallof the coupler a space being left between the seats for the downwardtravel of the part 16 when necessary to compensate for wear in theparts. In Fig. 3 the parts are shown in full lines in their normalposition and in dotted lines in the position assumed under extreme wear.yThis view also shows the extentv to which the lock may be expanded.

It will be obvious that modications may be made in the structure hereindisclosed and such modifications as are Within the scope of my claims, lconsider' Within the spirit of my invention.

l claim:

1. ln a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted therein, and a locking member, said locking member beingcomposed of a plurality of interiitting parts, one of said parts beingWedge-shaped to act on another thereof, substantially as described.

2. ln a car coupler, the combination of a head, a knuckle pivotedtherein, and a locking member, said locking member being composed of aplurality of interitting, Wedge-shaped parts, one of said parts beingbodily movable with relation to the other, substantially as described.

3. lin acar coupler, the combination of a head, a knuckle pivotedtherein, and a locking member, said member being composed of a pluralityof interlitting parts, Wedgeshaped With relation to each other, one ofsaid parts being movable to cause a gradual expansion of said lockingmember to take up Wear, substantially as described.

A. ln a car coupler, the combination of a head, a knuckle pivotedtherein, and a locki ing'member, said member being composed of outermembers having vertical locking faces and an interposed and interfittingWedge-shaped part, and a lifter connected to said interposed part,substantially as described.

5. A locking block for car couplers, composed of outer parts having ribsand an intermediate Wedge-shaped part having grooves, said parts beingheld in operative relation by coperation of said ribs and grooves,substantially as described.

6. A locking block for car couplers, composed of outer parts having ribsand an intermediate Wedge-shaped part having l grooves, said parts beingheld in operative relation by cooperation of said ribs and grooves, thecontacting surfaces between two of said parts being serrated,substantially as described.

7. A locking block for car couplers, composed of outer parts having ribsand an intermediate Wedgeshaped part having grooves, said parts beingheld in operative relation by cooperation of said ribs and grooves, thecontacting surfaces between two of said parts being serrated, andintegral clips adapted to be bent over the ends of said ribs and groovesto prevent separation of the parts, substantially as described.

EDMUN D l). KNNE.

Vl/litnesses:

LAUNA CARLISLE,

A. J. LEWIS.

opies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner nf Patents.

Washington, D. G.

